Cape Town edges closer to day zero as water usage spikes, dam levels drop by 1.1%

What is going on in the Mother City?

As dam levels dwindle, water usage in the Western Cape have rocketed despite the threat of day zero being dragged forward to the middle of Autumn.

Day zero is the term used to describe when the taps of the region will have to be turned off, due to a chronic lack of water. Cape Town’s water warriors are fighting valiantly, but it now seems like a majority of residents are simply giving up.

How full are Cape Town’s dams?

Total storage has fallen by 1.1%. As of this week, dam levels stand at 33%. The City’s overall water usage rose to 641 million litres per day. As at today, only 34% of residents are saving water. Agricultural users also consumed water at a similar rate to the city.

According to the City’s Director of Water and Sanitation, Peter Flower, day zero could occur as early as March 2018. Although the government officially calculate April 29th to be the day, Flower thinks a dry, windy summer will propel this date forward by six weeks.

“If water consumption continues to rise, together with the very hot windy conditions which increase evaporation losses, we can expect Day Zero to happen as soon as 18 March 2018. This is a terrifying prospect. Residential customers remain the largest portion of water users. If we can bring consumption down to 500 million litres per day, we will be able to avoid Day Zero”

What are the dam levels, and how much water is Cape Town using?

The city advises that all Capetonians must reduce their daily use down to 87 litres or less as the City implements the necessary water production projects, in order to avoid Day Zero.

At one point in October, water usage in the city was as low as 585 million litres per day. However, with an increase in temperature and tourists, the water levels have plunged into the wrong direction.

No matter how desperate the situation is, everyone in the Mother City must do their bit. The only way to avoid a shutdown of the water system is for everyone to chip in, and make their contribution.